I do not neglect my circle

Altho’ I am very taken up with my darlings and their brood, I hope that I do not neglect other friends or my acquaintances in philanthropick circles. Indeed, old friends such as Mrs N- and Miss A- and the devot’d musickal ladies continue to call upon me informal in the mornings. Miss L- is most delight’d over giving Meg piano lessons: an agreeable talent and works hard, she tells me, also, quite excellent refreshment is provid’d.

Miss A- assures me that she now understands the inwardness of the matter concerning Milord and Miss R- and indeed she quite perceives the necessity. Also, it quite does wonders for Miss R-'s consequence and there are many desire to call upon her in her dressing-room on account of the cachet Lord G- R-'s interest gives her. (I do not interrogate the dear rogue as to what she considers the inwardness of the matter, but I am dispos’d to consider that she supposes it a matter of preserving my reputation.)

Mrs N- continues to demonstrate her capacity for the collection of gossip in her new station and with much widen’d opportunity. Indeed she has once or twice put me pleasingly beforehand concerning fallings-out that will affect the philanthropick set, so that I may go about like a diplomat to prevent the outbreak of war.

She also conveys to me that there is an on-dit going around certain circles that the reason for Lord G- R-'s very markt attentions to Miss R- is that I have transferr’d my favours to that very fine young fellow that is his secretary. The supposition that Sandy is a by-blow of Milord’s late father, that continues to be put about, is adduc’d to account for his not being turn’d off from his place, along with remarks that Lord G- R- would be quite lost without his services.

Dear me, says I, just because Lord G- R- very kindly lets me make use of Mr MacD-'s talents in matters of law and business? Sure some people have nothing better to do than form wild speculations concerning their neighbours’ business. Fie upon them.

But indeed, my dear, says Mrs N-, he is not some fusty old man of business, is he? There are many that comment upon him and envy you.

(Well, thinks I, sure this is a tangled web we weave and yet for both of us 'tis extreme usefull to convey our treasure in a borrowed name.)

Tho', she adds, it is also widely remarkt that of course Lady B- conducts herself with admirable discretion. I think there is some disappointment at that. She laughs.

I hope, says I very primly, that you follow that example when you go visit Mr J-.

She blushes a little. I find, she says, that I am quite unable to give him up.

My dear, says I, does it help you to put up with Mr N-, that is a most estimable fellow and very kind-heart’d, but exceeding tedious, sure I cannot see the harm. I daresay that some of my Evangelickal acquaintance in the philanthropick set would be going about to blackball me for such advice, or even offer to have me clapt up in Bedlam, but if you are all three happy as matters stand?

She confides that they are. She adds that she thinks that her dear Mr J- finds it answers most extremely to have as a mistress one that is not a theatrickal.

I laugh somewhat immoderate, for indeed it must do so.

She adds that he has now receiv’d a fine play of that novel that was so popular, The Fateful Philtre, gives me a knowing look, and then, I confide, is in some confusion as she minds her of the new suppos’d state of my relations with Lord G- R-, that is still suspect’d as a dramatist incognito.

Is’t so? I ask. Sure it should make a very telling play. Does he go about to present it?

O, he thinks it will take extremely. Fine parts for all and many most dramatick effects.

(Sure 'tis most gratifying to hear this, for I fear that Sandy does not always convey with entire exactitude what Mr J- says about my plays, but out of kindness goes about to soften the matter.)

She jumps up and says indeed she has an assignation to be about. We kiss as the good friends we are and she runs off.

Now Sir Z- R- is back in Town, having late made a sketching tour to Wales, I purpose to go mingle at his studio and also to ask him whether Josh might come and make himself acquaint’d with the wombatt (the entire F- family along with Miss N- have made excursions to the Tower and Essex Exchange menageries, a matter both entertaining and instructive, tho’ I daresay Josh would desire further visits).

Before I go there, however, I make a brief call at Mr de C-'s studio, where I find him painting Titus in a defiant attitude, for his series of tableaux on the Evils of Slavery. Dear Martha S- is working away in one corner and tells me she continues to find oils most vastly entertaining.

Phoebe comes in and draws me aside into the corridor. She smiles very happy and says she has seen Aunty Black and indeed, her surmise was quite correct. However, she goes on, she finds she cannot at present remain long in the studio, for the smell of the paints, turpentine &C is most unsettling to her stomach. I kiss her with great affection and wish her well, mentioning that Mrs F- considers chewing on ginger root very sovereign for this queasiness. I also ask whether she has communicat’d this glad news any further.

Not yet, she says. I lay my finger to my lips to signify that I will remain silent until the matter becomes broadcast. I add that I am sure that with Mrs Black she is in quite the best of hands, but does she have any mind to be attend’d by Mr H- I will put in a word for her.

We take an affectionate farewell and I proceed onwards to Sir Z- R-'s.

There is the usual crowd in his studio. There are a few that go visit the wombatt, which sleeps, or perchance merely desires to ignore 'em. (Might it be that the wombatt is haughty and exclusive and goes about to administer the cut to its visitors?)

I observe Little V, that is escort’d by her brother, and mind me that the K-s have Hon Company connections and may be able to inform of me of the means to obtain tickets for the East India Museum. I go and greet them.

Viola expresses great pleasure at seeing me, and are we all not entirely delight’d that the F-s come to Town? Might their younger children be companions for little Essie? 'Twould be quite delightfull could they come visit, or perchance Betty might take him to R- House?

I am sure that would be quite entirely charming. (Quintus already shows himself a thoughtfull kind creature, by his behaviour to Julius.)

Also she says that she hears that the elder girls are having language tutors, including dear Fraulein H-, and she wonders whether they might get up a circle for reading in foreign tongues, she would find it a most extreme helpful exercise. (Sure I think she would be quite excellent company for Bess and Meg.) I say that I daresay she is a good deal more advanc’d in her studies than they are, but it might prove very usefull to them.

By the way, I turn to Sebastian K-, I mind that you have some interest with the Hon Company? I have a notion that one may acquire tickets to their museum - I should very much like to take the young F-s there and see if we may see General Y-'s fine collection of little figures of the Hindoo trades &C that was left them. Do you know how I might go about the matter?

I shall be entirely glad to be of service in the matter and obtain tickets for you, says he.

Oh, that is most exceeding kind, says I.

Oh, says Viola, I should greatly like to see that myself. (I collect that she desires to learn Sanskrit, which is, or so Sandy informs me, as it were the classickal tongue of the Hindoos.)

Why, says I, should you be at leisure to do so, I should be delight’d were you able to join our party.

Indeed I have many pressing concerns, she agrees, now we are back in Town, but I hope we may arrange this.

We part with excellent good feeling on all sides.

I go to Sir Z- R- to further Josh’s suit to see the wombatt.

I should be most extreme delight’d for one that has such enthusiasm for wombatts to come visit the dear creature. Why do you not bring him one forenoon when there is less press of company?

I go on to ask about his travels in Wales - very fine, he says, quite extreme picturesque and in certain parts quite sublime. He has a great desire to go to Ireland, but his very great susceptibility to mal de mer makes him think better of it. Indeed there is very fine landscape to be found without setting out to sea.

He goes on to say how delightfull to meet Mr T- again and hear of his travels, and while his wife is indeed a bespectacl’d bluestocking, she is a most entertaining conversationalist on the topick of the natural phenomena of New South Wales.

He commends my recent soirée and asks whether I plan to hold another in the near future?

Indeed, says I, I should like to welcome the F-s to Town – however, I am also in anticipation of the arrival any day of a dear friend of mine from Naples, the Contessa di S-, a most fascinating woman, show’d me most great hospitality when I was there.

After I take my leave of Sir Z- R- I am accost’d by Herr F-, the violincellist, that I apprehend has been waiting for this opportunity. He would very much desire to visit me one day: I daresay he has some interest he wishes me to promote that he had rather not discourse of in publick – perchance some relative or acquaintance that he would desire to recommend to one or other of the philanthropick enterprizes I have on hand. I concede to his request and suggest one forenoon a few days hence.